Inhibition and enhancement of photically evoked responses by different doses ofl-DOPA

Summary Administration of small doses ofl-DOPA (10 and 20 mg/kg) resulted in reduction in amplitude of photically evoked responses in the primary visual, association, and cerebellar vermal cortices, while large doses (40 and 80 mg/kg) produced enhancement.Acknowledgment. We thank Prof.K. Kuriyama and Sr.M. McCormick for their help.     

Epidermal Langerhans cells are derived from cells originating in bone marrow

Langerhans cells constitute a morphologically well characterised subpopulation (3--8%) of mammalian epidermal cells which, in contrast to the bulk of epidermal cells, bear Fc-IgG and C3 receptors, express immune response-associated (Ia) antigens and function as antigen-presenting cells and allogeneic stimulatory cells to primed T lymphocytes. The ontogeny of Langerhans cells has been a subject of considerable debate since their discovery. Although some studies suggest that Langerhans cells are of mesenchymal as opposed to neural or melanocytic origin, direct evidence for this has not been presented. In this study we demonstrate that, after 3 weeks, most of the Langerhans cells (LC) in parenteral skin which had been transplanted on to F1 hybrids were of recipient origin whereas keratinocytes remained of donor origin; this indicates that the LC are derived from a mobile pool of cells. Furthermore, in studies of skin from radiation-induced bone marrow chimaeric animals we found that, depending on the strain combination, up to 80% of the epidermal LC were derived from the bone marrow of the donor animals.     

Chromosomal and morphological diversity in 2 populations of Asian mountain vole,Alticola lemminus Miller (Rodentia,Cricetidae)

Summary Voles from Yakutia and Chukotka were found to differ in the morphology of 3 pairs of autosomes and sex chromosomes, as well as in M³-structure and skull dimensions. This makes their conspecificity doubtful. A variation in short arm lengths of the X- and Y-chromosomes has been discovered.     

Alternative methods of animal sacrifice: The effect on intestinal function in vitro

Summary The total fluid uptake of everted sacs of rat jejunum was compared in animals killed by stunning and decapitation, or anaesthetised with ether. Fluid transport was significantly higher in the tissue prepared from stunned and decapitated animals. It is suggested that etherization may have adverse effects on the physiological viability of subsequently isolated tissues.     

o-N-diisopropylaminoethoxy-butyrophenone,a new local anaesthetic drug

Riassunto Da una serie di-fenossietilamine acilate è stata selezionata una nuova sostanza e cioè l'o-N-diisopropylaminoetossibutirrofenone, che possiede elevate proprietà anestetiche locali di superficie, per infiltrazione e tronculari. Si sono comparate le attività anestetiche e la tossicità del nuovo composto con quelle della cocaina e della procaina.